Recap by phillip woo

Last season's Horse of the Year, Beauty Generation kicked away at the 350m after working at the start to sit outside the leader California Whip from a wide gate to score impressively off a big weight. He remains a force to be reckoned with over the 1,400m and mile this term. Ping Hai Star quickened very well travelling five back on the fence to grab second 60m out. He'll be a major threat at a mile to 2,000m. It was a huge run by Born In China who stayed on well following a midfield run on the fence. He's racing very well but will need to find another gear to beat this group heading forward. Beauty Only finished strongly down the outside after settling near the back following a tardy break. He rarely produces a bad run. Favourite Nothingilikemore was asked to go approaching the final bend following a one-out, one-back run but came up flat over the last 150m. It was a disappointing effort but he'll likely come on for this run.

Racing Incident Report

BEAUTY ONLY was slow to begin.

BORN IN CHINA began awkwardly.

Despite being vigorously ridden along in the early stages, ROMANTIC TOUCH failed to muster speed, consequently raced back in the field and travelled wide and without cover.

CALIFORNIA WHIP shifted in at the start and bumped HORSE OF FORTUNE.

From wide barriers, DINOZZO and THEWIZARDOFOZ were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Passing the 900 Metres, EAGLE WAY was momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of THEWIZARDOFOZ.

Rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight, NOTHINGILIKEMORE got its head on the side and lay out.

After the race, G van Niekerk stated that FIFTY FIFTY was left somewhat flat-footed rounding the Home Turn and then over the concluding stages finished off the race only one-paced.

A veterinary inspection of FIFTY FIFTY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

When questioned, D Whyte stated that he had intended to shift SOUTHERN LEGEND to the outside of FIFTY FIFTY rounding the Home Turn to follow NOTHINGILIKEMORE as he anticipated that that horse would finish off the race well.

He said as he was directing SOUTHERN LEGEND to the outside of FIFTY FIFTY, NOTHINGILIKEMORE came under immediate pressure and did not quicken which resulted in SOUTHERN LEGEND being awkwardly placed inside the heels of NOTHINGILIKEMORE.

He said as NOTHINGILIKEMORE was not travelling well, he elected to follow FIFTY FIFTY through.

He added SOUTHERN LEGEND responded only fairly to his riding in the early part of the Straight and when PING HAI STAR improved to be racing inside SOUTHERN LEGEND approaching the 200 Metres, this resulted in SOUTHERN LEGEND being momentarily awkwardly placed behind FIFTY FIFTY before being able to be shifted to the inside of that horse.

He said SOUTHERN LEGEND subsequently finished off the race only one-paced.

A veterinary inspection of SOUTHERN LEGEND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

NOTHINGILIKEMORE, BEAUTY GENERATION and PING HAI STAR were sent for sampling.